Spray nozzle



L. O. FRENCH SPRAY NozzLE Filed Slept. 2o, 1955 FIG. 5.

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9 INVENTR Patented Sept. l1, 1936 UNITED -sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The invention relates to spray nozzles and more particularly to a fuel injection nozzle for spraying fuel into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine or into a passage communicating with the cylinder, said nozzle being of the check-valvecontrolled type.

With the usual check-valve-controlled fuel nozzles the space between the valve and the nozzle is so large that the fuel pressure is reduced before delivery and this produces a poor spray and frequently causes dribbling and cannot be used with any atomizing effect on small bore engines. Where the valve itself has been caused to move outwardly against `a nozzle member, the bulk of the fuel charge may be discharged through the nozzle during the time that the valve is moving to a nozzle engaging position and as/the valve closes there is a relatively large open or clearance space between the valve andthe nozzle from which dribbling may occur.` One object of the present inventionl is to provide a spray nozzle that lwill overcome the above mentioned dilculties and produce a spray equalling that'of the more complicated and costly differentially operated needle valves by having the valve contact with the nozzle member at all times, the nozzle member also protecting the valve so that carbon deposits cannot reach its seating surfaces as is sometimes the case with needle valves, and in this connection the present invention may be considered a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 754,057-, filed November 21, 1934.

A fuel injection valve has to perform a most exacting service. In the case of injectors for separate pumps the valve should close promptly after each injection to avoid erratic action and prevent dribbling. vIn the case of injectors in which the fuel is-put under pressure in the injector itself by a plunger working therein the injector valve becomes the discharge valve of the pump, and if it does not close promptly or properly, it will admit air or gas fumes and prevent proper metering of the fuel to the engine cylinder and may cause dribbling. After considerable experimenting, I have found that a rigid check valve seating against a rigid seat, rigidly supported and preferably positively guidedI relative to said seat, is the least apt to get out of order. Such valvesper se are not new, but the problem has been to combine with such a check valve and its seat ameans to close the valve and allow it to open und-er the action of fuel pressure which will keep the fuel discharge passage or passages short and provide a spray with a clean cut off and one whose characteristics are determined independent of the valve opening. Furthermore, according to the present invention the means to close the valve also protects the valve seat from carbon deposits getting into it from the engine cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check-valve-controlled spray nozzle in which the valve is closed by a separate resilient nozzle member which is initially tensioned by a part on either the valve or nozzle member which on the asl0 sembling of the part-s acts to tension said member. In vthe preferred embodiment of the single jet nozzle the tensioning partis grooved to conduct fuel to the discharge passage for the nozzle and preferably so as to determine in general the spray l5 characteristics so that the discharge passage may be relatively large.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check-valve-controlled spray nozzle in which the valve has a flat face engaging a fiat seat at the 20 end of the injector casing or a renewable part secured thereto, said seat preferably being raised or coextensive with the surface of said end or part so that it and the valve may be readily inspected and cleaned, the passage or passages for conducting 25 the fuel Vfrom the valve opening to the discharge passage in the nozzle member also being readily accessiblefor cleaning when the valve is taken apart.

A further object of the invention is to provide 30 a cheok-valve-controlled spray nozzle that may be readily adapted for different forms of lsprays depending upon whether the valve engages or projects through the discharge opening in the nozzle or engages a multiple spray nozzle tip.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

vIn the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through a.4 40 spray nozzle embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan or head end view of the valve shown lin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 2 showing cer- 5 tain modifications; f.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing certain modifications, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing certain modiflcationmparts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve closing member shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view similar to Fig. l, showing certain modifications, parts being broken away;

view oi.l the valve shown a pipe or pipe fitting by which fuel is conducted.

from any suitable pressure pump, and a threaded part I3 for mounting the injector inthe engine, or in tne intake conduit thereof.

A plain flat surface I4 is either formedat the end of the casing or on a member I5 secured in uid tight engagement with said end, said seat surrounding a valve guide passage It. The seat is a rigid or non-ilexible part, rigidly supported. A separate seat member I5 is preferred as it may then be made of material best suited for the purpose and be replaceable at a relatively small ex= pense.

A flat faced check valve Il -is adapted to engage said surfacey and has a stem positively guided in the passage IB. While the Working clearance between the stem and its guide may be sufdcient for passage of fuel therebetween,

said valve may be uted or grooved as at i3 to conduct the fuel to an annular groove 2li adjacent its seating face. It is provided with an end 2I whose dimensions may vary but which in most cases is smaller than the seating area so as to localize its contact with a valve closing or `retainer and nozzle member 22 which is clamped to the seat as hereinafter described.

'I'he nozzle and closing member 22 is in the form of a cylindrical member having a plain upper surface 23 .and a central opening 2li and formed of steel or suitable alloy steel and adapted to ex and act as a closure spring for the valve II with Which it contacts, this contact preferably not depending upon any special centering projection between said valvev and spring; The member 22 is anchored at its outer edge to the casing by the inwardly flanged clamping nut 25 which is in threaded engagement with the lower end of the casing I0. Said member22 mightbe clamped directly to the member I5 as where the seating surface I4 for the valve is on said member I5 and inset so as to accommodate the main valve head and a portion of said end 2l, but in order to facilitate access to the seat so that it may be readily inspected and cleaned the.seat

` ing surface is either raised or made coextensive .the valve I'l to hold it against its seat.

however, the pressure of the fuel in the casing- I0 reaches a value suiiicient to overcome thistension, the closing member will yield and allow the valve Il to move oif its seat and'permit fuel to pass through the discharge opening 24.

The end 2! in Fig'. l is shown as a straight pin. and its height may vary from a few thousandths to about a thirty-second of an inch, and thel thickness of the ller member 2 6 will vary accordingly, and in the case of a very small pin end the thickness of said member 26 may be about equal to that of the main body portion of theA valve head where said portion projects beyond said seat. The relatively longer projection is shown and has the advantage of providing a grip for a hand vise or chuckv that mij' be used in initial grinding' or subsequent handling of the valve. Where the valve is of smalldiameter vso that it may be gripped at the larger part of its head, the end may be made conical as shown in Fig. a, to reduce the clearance, provide a. more stream line approach to the spray opening, and simplify the machining of the valve.

vVarious forms and arrangements of passages may be provided between the valve and its closing member and these, when the discharge opening 2t is relatively large, will determine the character of the spray. For a wide' angle spray the end 2i may have a conical'recess 2l formed therein with tangentially disposed grooves 28 formed in said end and communicating with said recess as shown in Fig. 2, which recess communicates with the discharge opening 2@ and' forms a whirl chamber at the upper end of said opening so as to produce a centrifugal type spray whose spreading tendency maybe controlled to some extent by the length of said passage. 23. For a more concentrated spray the end 2l may have a da metrically extending groeve 29 out or otherwise formed therein as shown in Fig. 3, so that `two streams of fuel from opposite directions will meet each other at the upper end of the discharge opening 2t and impacting against each other will pr0- duce a well atomized spray even'though the diameter of said opening may be relatively large. With either of these nozzle formsthe diameter of the discharge opening may be as large as two to three hundredths of an inch, so that it may be cleaned if necessary by a needle or a pin.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the injector valve in that type of injector wherein the casing 39 has a pump barrel 3D' mounted therein and shown as supplied with fuel through passages 3l and 32 and having a pump plunger 33 reciprocating therein and in this instance the injector valve is the discharge valve of the pump.

A plain seating surface is either formed on the end of the pump barrel or a member 3@ may be secured in fluid tight engagement therewith, said member having a valve guide passage 35 alined with the bore of the pump barrel and here shown as having an inset seating face 36.

A dat faced check valve 31 is adapted to engage said surface 3B and has a stem 38 positively guided in the passage 35 and may be iluted and groovedv the same as the valve II anda slot or groove 39 is formed on the front face of its head of sumcient depth to take a screw driver or other tool or metal part that may be inserted in it for turning said valve to service the same. In some engines it is usual'to provide a plurality of sprays leading at certain predetermined angles from the nozzle tip, and in Fig. 5 I show the valve 3l normally held closed by a separate cylindrical resilient nozzle and closing member 4@ of steel. or other suitable material having a nozzle tip 4I formed integral therewith or detachably mounted therein as by a flange 42 engaging the main body portion of the member 40 adjacent a centrally disposed opening 43, said tip having a central passage 44 and a plurality of spray passages 45 leading therefrom, said flanged portion being of a height to put the member 40 under a predetermined tension when its outer edge isl clamped to the barrel 30 or seat member 34, if usedby the anged clamping nut 46 in threaded engagement with the casing 29, a washer or filler 41 being interposedbetween said vmember 40 and the part to which it is clamped to insure a iiuid tight seal. As the slotted surface of the valve abuts against the top of the tip 4l, the fuel passing the valve seat enters the passage 44 from the groove 39 and thence proceeds through the spray passages 45 as the initial tension of the closing member 49 is overcome by the action of the fuel pressure on the valve. The tip 4| may also have a single spray opening formed therein ii desired.

Where as shown in Figs.1 and 5 separate seat member's l5 and 34 are used; a sealing gasket 48 may be interposed between said member and the casing or pump barrel.

In Figs. 7 to 9 I have shown certain features previously mentioned in connection with the other constructions, to wit: a casing 49 having araised flat valve seat 50 formed thereon at its lower end and having a supply passage I in which the stem of the fiat faced check-valve 52 is guided. In this instance the valve 52 cooperates with the resilient nozzle and closing member 53 to form a pintle type nozzle, said valve opening against the predetermined tension of said member 53 underthe action of fuel pressure and having a pin projection 54 passing into 0r through the opening 55 in said closing member and spaced therefrom to form an annular orifice. For conducting the fuel to the top or inner end of this orifice the bottom of the valve head is provided with an annular groove 56 adjacent the pin 54 and radially l disposed grooves 5l connecting said groove 56 with the space surrounding the valve head. The area of the valve head at 58 adjacent the closing member 53 is preferably reduced to localize the pressure on said member at its central portion and said head is also shown as provided with an undercut groove 59 for quick seating.

Since with the pintle type accurate centering is Inecessary for best spraying effect, the closing member 53 is shown as provided with a anged edge 60 centered directly on the casing at 6I and held thereagainst by the clamping nut 62 and an annular filler member 63 is loosely mounted between the' casing 49 and the closing member 53.

It will be noted that in all the forms shown the nozzle and closing member only rests against the valve and does not in any way act to center the valve relative to its seat, and as a consequence the valve is relieved of any strains from said member that might be imposed upon it tending to partially unseat it, and the nozzle member is free of any strains on the sides of its discharge opening that might tend to rupture it. In the above described constructions the valve is guided to its seat .by the guide passage in the member or part forming the seat, and this member or part is rigid and rigidly supported and out of direct contact with the heated gases of the engine. Furthermore, the distance the fuel has to travel from the valve opening to the discharge opening in the nozzle member is so'short that substantially the full eiect of the 'supply pressure is attained at the nozzle and the volume of the fuel at the discharge passage is so small that dribbling does not occur.

It is also to be noted that in the forms shown in Figs. 1, 4, and '7 as the valve is opened and closed, it is in constant contact with the nozzle member which also moves with the valve and to some extenttransversely to it so that any tendency for carbon to ycollect and cake up the `spray passage or passages is prevented.

' sure of the liquid to be sprayed.

All the parts above described are of metal and preferably except where otherwise mentioned a suitable alloy steel. The valves and their rigid seat members may be formed of aluminum steel y hardened by nitriding such steel now being commonly used in this art.

The drawings herein, as to the mainparts, are on an enlarged and only an approximate scale and the clearances and size of passageshave been greatly exaggerated.

I desire' it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited 'to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a valve, a metal seat member for said valve, and a valve retainer and nozzle member normally holding said lvalve to its seat, said valve being movable relative toits seat under the action of the pres- 2. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a iiuid pressure operated check valve, and a nozzle member constantly acting to hold said valve to its seat and provided with a spray opening, there being a communication between` said valve and member.

3. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a rigidly seated and guided uid pressure operated check valve, anda valve retainer and nozzle member normally holding said valve to its seat, said valve being movable relativeto its seat and y with a portion of said member under the action of the pressure of the liquid to be sprayed.

4; In a spray nozzle, the combination of a rigid seat member, a movable check valve positively guided by said seat member and cooperating therewith, and a resilient valve closing and nozzle member having a non-centering contact with said valve and normally holding said valve to its seat, said valve being movable relative to its seat under the action of the pressure of the liquid to be sprayed.

'5. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a rigidly seated and guided iluid pressure operated check valve, and a valve retainerv and nozzle member constantly engaging the head end of said valve and normally holdingit to its seat, parts of said member and said valve having a passage formed therebetween determining the spray characteristics of said member.

6. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a rigid seat member, a movable check valve centered with reference to said seat member and cooperating therewith, and a resilient valve closing and nozzle member having a non-centering Contact with the head end of said valve and normally holding said valve to its seat, the contacting surfaces of said nozzle member and head of said valve having a discharge passage formed therebetween determining the spray characteristics of 'said nozzle member.A

7. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a rigidly seated and guided fluid pressure operated check valve, and a valve retainer and nozzle member constantly engaging the head end of said valve and normally holding it to its seat, said nozzle member having a relatively large cen- 'trally disposed discharge passage, the. end of said valve engaging said member adjacent said passage and grooved to determine, in general, the spray characteristics. of the fluid passing therethrough. 1- Y I ,,T8..In. a spray nozzle;A thegcombinatio'n of a I rigidly supported rigid seat 'member having an 75 opening, a check valve'seating on said seat member and Ycontrolling the passage of liquid through said opening, a resilient closing member constantly engaging said valve and normally acting to hold ltA to its seat and provided with an outlet opening, there being an open passage between said valve and said member at their point of contactcommunicating with the opening in said Y memberD f 9. lIn a spray nozzle, the combination of a rigidly seated and guided uid pressure operated check valve having a fiat exposed end, and ay ing and having a fiat exposed end, and awcenment with said valve.

^ 11. In a spray'nozzle, the combination of rigidly seated and guided uid pressure operated check valve and resilient valve retainer and nozzie member constantly contacting said valveand trally apertured substantially flat spring mem-- Y aber engaging said end, adjacent its opening, saidl end having a fluid conveying groove, and means; z for clamping saidmember in tensioned engage-e 1 normally holding said valve to its seat and p'ro-l vided with a discharge passage, there being a passage from the seat of said valve to said discharge passage whose length is determined substantially by the thickness of the head of saidvalve, said lvalve being movable relative to its seat under the action of the pressure of the liquid to be sprayed.

LOUIS O. FRENCH. 29 

